Ninth-seeded Leylah Fernandez will face seventh-seeded Diana Shnaider in the third round of the 2026 Charleston Open. After getting a bye in the first round, Fernandez began her campaign with a 6-2, 6-1 win over Uzbekistani qualifier Polina Kudermetova. Shnaider got a first-round bye as well, following which she secured a 7-5, 7-5 win over home favorite Katie Volynets in the second round.
Charleston Open Match Details: Leylah Fernandez vs. Diana Shnaider
Date: April 2, 2026
Tournament: Charleston Open 2026
Round: Third Round (Round of 16)
Venue: Credit One Stadium, Charleston, South Carolina, U.S.
Surface: Outdoor clay (green)
Category: WTA 500
Live Telecast: Tennis Channel, Sky Sports, TSN
Head-to-Head Record: Fernandez vs. Shnaider
After four meetings, the head-to-head between the two players is split at 2-2. The last time they played, Shnaider won 7-5, 6-3 at the Adelaide International this year.
Fernandez has won only 4 of her 12 matches this season, suffering an opening-round exit in 5 of the 8 events she has played before Charleston. The Sunshine Double before the clay season was underwhelming for the Canadian, as she lost to Katerina Siniakova in her opening match at Indian Wells and then to Jessica Pegula in the third round at Miami.
Shnaider has a 9-7 win-loss record in 2026, with her best result being a semifinal finish in Adelaide, where she had wins over the likes of Fernandez, Siniakova, and Emma Navarro before losing out to Mirra Andreeva.
She had a third-round run at the Australian Open, where she lost to Elina Svitolina. However, her performances in the Middle East and at the Sunshine Double were limited because she could win only one match at each event.
Match Prediction: Fernandez vs. Shnaider
In her opening match, Fernandez looked secure on serve, winning 73% of the first-serve points and 65% of the second-serve points. She did well under pressure, saving 3 break points on serve and converting 4 of the 9 break points on return games.
Shnaider could win only 43% of her first-serve points in her match against Volynets, which saw the Russian player get broken 6 times. However, she made the return her weapon, securing 8 service breaks in the match.
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Fernandez’s serving proficiency will give her an advantage in the upcoming match, as free points on serve on clay greatly improve a player’s chances of winning. However, the poor form Fernandez has shown this year, coupled with the head-to-head in which Shnaider has won the last two contests, gives the Russian a significant advantage in the match if she starts strongly, especially on her serve.
Pick: Shnaider to win in straight sets.
